Among the more than a dozen different English translation of Heinrich Hoffmann’s Struwwelpeter, Mark Twain’s free rendering is certainly the most original. And among the many translators of the timeless children’s classic into over 100 languages and dialects, the American writer is no doubt the most prominent … In her “Foreword” to the first publication of her father’s Struwwelpeter Mark Twain’s daughter Clara Clemens wrote: “Certain books, like certain people, impart a flavor of enjoyment regardless of time. Struwwelpeter has this deathless flavor.” The same can surely be said of Mark Twain’s translation (Walter Sauer)

When the children gentle be,
Then the Christchild they shall see;
If they eat their soup and yet
Still their bread they don’t forget,
Handle silently their toys,
Taking pains to make no noise,
And when a pleasure-walk is planned,
Let Mother lead them by the hand,
For every blessing they may look,
And get, besides, a Picture Book.